Background. Despite all success achieved in drug therapy for CHF, the CHF mortality remains high. Non-drug treatment, such as breathing exercises, may effectively supplement drug therapy. However possibilities of using full yoga breath in patients with CHF has not been studied. Aim. To evaluate effectiveness of full yoga breath as a part of multimodal treatment in CHF patients. Materials and methods. The study included 65 patients (36 men and 29 women, mean age 64.2±4.8) who were admitted for decompensated NYHA FC III–IV CHF with reduced LV EF (<45 %). Patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n=33) consisted of patients receiving only a standard therapy for CHF; patients of Group 2 (n=32) were additionally trained in full yoga breath. Comprehensive evaluation of patients was performed at admission and discharge. Results. At baseline, significant differences between groups in clinical characteristics of patients and studied parameters were absent (р>0.05). At the end of observation period, significant decreases (p<0.05 for all) in “office” heart rate, resting respiratory rate, and shortness of breath using the Borg Dyspnea Scale, increased exercise tolerance, and increased arterial blood oxygen saturation were observed in both groups. All these changes were more pronounced in Group 2 than Group 1 (р<0.05 for all). The decrease in body weight due to diuresis was also greater in Group 2. According to spirometry data, lung reserve volumes improved only in Group 2. CHF FC improved in 84.7 % of patients in Group 1 and only in 65.8 % of patients in Group 1 (χ2=8.91; p=0.012). Mean duration of hospital stay was shorter in Group 2 (16.3±2.4 days vs. 19.9±2.8 days in Group 1, p<0.001). Analysis of EchoCG parameters did not reveal any statistically significant differences in the groups. Conclusion. The use of full yoga breath in addition to a standard therapy was associated with significant decreases in heart rate, manifestations of pulmonary congestion, and CHF FC, increased exercise tolerance and lung volume reserve, and arterial blood oxygen saturation. These effects provided faster achievement of CHF compensation and shorter stay in a hospital.

Working Group on Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology and Working Group on Heart Failure of the European Society of Cardiology. Recommendations for exercise training in chronic heart failure patients. Eur Heart J. 2001 Jan;22 (2):125–35.